^ - / f ^ 7 



181. 



LASIOCAMPA MEDICAGINIS. 



The Medick Eggar. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Bombycidae Lat., Leach. 



Type of the Genus Bombyx Quercus Linn. 



Lasiocampa Schr., Germ., Leach. — Gastropacha Och. — Bombyx 

 Linn., Fab., Lot., Haw. 



Antennce inserted towards the hind part of the head, nearly 

 straight, setaceous, strongly bipectinated in the males, each 

 branch being ciliated and producing a rigid bristle near the apex, 

 inclining upward (fig. 1) : serrated in the females (2). 

 Maxilla: and Mandibles none. 



Palpi 2, small short hairy (4); 3-jointed, 1st and 2nd joints 

 robust, the former the longest, 3d minute ovate (4 a). 

 Males smaller than the females. 



Head short. Eyes small (7). Thorax large not crested. Abdomen 



of the males attenuated and divided at the apex ; robust and subovate 



in the females. Wings e«/jre, deflexed when at rest. Tarsi 5-jo»i<ed. 



Claws and Pulvilli distinct. 



Caterpillars with 6 pectoral, 8 abdominal, and 2 anal feet ; cylindrical 



and hairy, curling themselves up when disturbed. 

 Pupae inclosed in an obtuse oblong cocoon of very close texture. 



Medicaginis Och. Schmet. ?;. 3.p. 264. 



Male dull castaneous, abdomen brighter. Antennae dull ochra- 

 ceous. Eyes cinereous. Wings, superior sparingly speckled with 

 ochraceous hairs, an abbreviated and sinuated fascia near the 

 base, and another beyond the middle slightly denticulated on 

 the internal side, dull ochre ; a cream-coloured spot near the 

 disk approaching the costa : inferior wings rather paler, darkest 

 towards the abdomen with a curved pale rather obscure line 

 crossing near the middle. 



In the Cabinet of Mr. Stone. 



This natural genus of Schranks having been sunk by Och- 

 senheimer, together with several others, to form his large 

 group Gastropacha, it becomes necessary to show our grounds 

 for again separating them, which may be done in the follow- 

 ing tabular form. 



